Police

Communications

Equipment

Survey of

1976

Law Enforcement

Equipment

Technology

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

COMMERCE

National Bureau of

Standards
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report was prepared by the Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards under the direction of Marshall J. Treado, Manager,

Communications Systems Program, and Jacob J. Diamond, Chief of LESL.
or STANDjVHJDS

480-13

NBS Special Police aug 2^19/7

Communications 'hc"^

Equipment

Survey of

1976

I 00

by

William A. Shand, Marshall J. Treado

Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory

Center for Consumer Product Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

prepared for National Institute of Law

Enforcement and Criminal Justice

Law Enforcement Assistance Administration

U.S. Department of Justice

Washington, D. C. 20531

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Juanita M. Kreps, Secretary

Dr. Sidney Harman, Under Secretary

Jordan J. Baruch, Assistant Secretary for Science and Techno/ogy

Issued August 1977 , ; NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Acting Director
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Shand, William A.

Police communications equipment survey of 1976. (Law enforcement equipment technology) (NBS special publication ; 480-13)

Supt. of Docs, no.: €13.10:480-13

1. Police communication systems— United States. L Treado,

Marshall J., joint author. II. National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. III. Title. IV. Series. V. Series: United States. National Bureau of Standards. Special publication ; 480-13. QC100.U57 no. 480-13 [HV7936.C8] 602Ms [363.2'028] 77-24534

National Bureau of Standards

Special Publication 480-1

3

Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Spec. Publ. 480-13, 54 pages CODEN:XNBSAV

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON:

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U S Government Printing Office, Washington, D C. 20402

(Order by SD Catalog No. CI 3.1 0: 480-1 3). stock Number 003-O03-OI8I8-O (Add 25 percent additional for other than U.S. mailing).
FOREWORD

The Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (LESL) of the National Bureau of Standards

(NBS) furnishes technical support to the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration

(LEAA) program to strengthen law enforcement and criminal justice in the United States. LESL's function is to conduct research that will assist law enforcement and criminal justice

agencies in the selection and procurement of quality equipment.

LESL is (1) subjecting existing equipment to laboratory testing and evaluation and (2)

conducting research leading to the development of several series of documents, including

national voluntary equipment standards, user guidelines, state-of-the-art surveys and other

reports.

This document is a law enforcement equipment report developed by LESL under the sponsorship of LEAA. Additional reports as well as other documents are being issued under

the LESL program in the areas of protective equipment, communications equipment, security

systems, weapons, emergency equipment, investigative aids, vehicles and clothing.

Technical components and suggestions concerning the subject matter of this report are

invited from all interested parties. Comments should be addressed to the Law Enforcement

Standards Laboratory, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C. 20234.

Jacob J. Diamond

Chief, Law Enforcement

Standards Laboratory

iii

CONTENTS

PaC« Foreword iii Executive Summary vi Abstract 1

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Project Background 1

1.2 Sample Design 1

1.3 Questionnaire Administration 2

1.4 Development and Design of the Questionnaire 2

2. Survey Results 2

2.1 Advice to Reader 2

2.2 Question by Question Tabulation 3

2.2.1 Availability and Use of NILECJ Communications Documents 3

2.2.2 Availability and Use of NILECJ Communications Equipment Standards 4

2.2.3 Need for Design Standards 10

2.2.4 Availability and Use of NILECJ Communications Reports 11

2.2.5 Need for Communications Equipment Documentation 16

2.3 Priority Ratings 34

2.4 Discussion 34

3. Conclusions 40

Appendix A—Letters of Transmittal 42

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Rate of Return by Category vii Table 2. Rate of Return by Type of Jurisdiction vii Table 3. Police Officials' Priorities 35

Table 4. Communications Specialists' Priorities 36

Table 5. SPA and LKAA Representatives' Priorities 37

Table 6. Use of Standards 38

Table 7. Participants that Intend to Use Standards . 38

Table 8. Priorities by Category 38

Table 9. Priorities vs. Documentation 39

Table 10. Comparison by Size of Jurisdiction 4-1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. Background and Methodology

A. Background

O The Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (LESL) was established in 1971 by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) under the sponsorship of the National Institute of Law

Enforcement and Criminal Justice (NILECJ), Law Enforcement Assistance Administration

(LEAA).

O LEAA requested that LESL develop and conduct a survey to obtain information from

the users of law enforcement communications equipment.

O The user information was desired to aid LEAA in evaluating the distribution and use

of existing standards, guidelines and reports. It was also to be used in setting priorities for future documentation.

O A nationwide mail sample survey was selected as the best procedure for the collection of the user information.

B. Design of Questionnaire

O A questionnaire was developed by LESL in conjunction with LEAA and cooperating

police departments. The questionnaire was pre-tested in five police departments.

O The questionnaire sought information on whether or not the recipients were aware of NILECJ, LESL and the NILECJ communications documents.

O The questionnaire was designed to provide information regarding the use of present

standards, guidelines and reports.

O The questionnaire also sought information about priority needs for standards, guidelines and reports on communication equipment.

C. Sample

O The population considered for sampling was composed of the police departments listed in a computerized file maintained by the LEAA Statistical Service, the fifty State Planning

Agencies (SPA) and the ten LEAA regional offices. O From this total population, 120 police officials who had participated in an earlier (1972)

survey of police communications equipment were selected as follows: 20 from state police or highway patrols

20 from county police departments

20 from cities with 1 to 9 sworn officers 20 from cities with 10 to 49 sworn officers 20 from cities with 50 or more sworn officers 20 from the 50 largest cities. O In addition, 120 police communication specialists and 14 representatives from State Planning Agencies and LEAA regional offices were selected. These officials were not known

to have participated in the earlier survey. All 50 states and all 10 regional offices were

represented in this group.

D. Questionnaire Administration

O Each mailing consisted of a letter and a questionnaire.

O Three different form letters were used, one for police officials, one for communication

specialists and one for SPA and LEAA representatives. (See appendix A).

vi
O On January 22, 1976, the 254 questionnaire packages were mailed.

O During the month of March, over 120 telephone calls were made to those who had not

responded.

O Each returned questionnaire was examined and tabulated on a master chart. O Completed questionnaires were accepted through April 16, 1976.

E. Rates of Return

O 176 respondees (69 percent) of the overall mailing returned usable questionnaires. (See

table 1). O 82 (68 percent) of the 120 police officials returned usable questionnaires.

O 85 (71 percent) of the 120 communication specialists returned usable questionnaires.

O 9 (64 percent) of the 14 SPA and LEAA offices returned usable questionnaires.

O The highest rate of return (90 percent) was from the states. (See table 2).

O The lowest rate of return (50 percent) was from cities with 1-9 officers.

Table 1. Rate of return by category

Number Usable

Category maUed returned

* Police ofi&cials 120 82 (68%)

Communication Specialists 120 85 (71%)

SPA and LEAA Offices 14 9 (64%)

Overall 254 176 (69%)

* See Table 2 for responses by jurisdiction.

Table. 2. Rate of return by type of jurisdiction

Number Usable

Jurisdiction mailed rettirns

State 20 18 (90%)

County 20 12 (60%)

1-9 Officers 20 10 (50%)

10-49 Officers 20 14 (70%)

50 or more officers 20 12 (60%)

50 largest cities 20 16 (80%)

2. Summary of Results

A. Police Officials

O 60 out of 82 respondents (73 percent) were aware of the Law Enforcement Equipment

Standards Program.

O 55 (67 percent) knew the program was being conducted by LESL for NILECJ.

O 50 (61 percent) knew that LESL had developed documents on police communications

equipment for NILECJ.

O 47 (57 percent) had received the NILECJ communications documents.

vii
O 48 (59 percent) know how to order NILECJ communications documents.

O 48 (59 percent) would use the documents for procurement, 74 (90 percent) for refer- ence and 21 (26 percent) for testing purposes. O 69 (84 percent) would like copies of the LESL communications documents.

O 69 (84 percent) would like a copy of the updated list of the LESL communications

publications.

O Information on the following equipments would be the most valuable. (In order of

priority. See table 3.)

:

1. Personal two-way radios *

2. Base station equipment *

3. Mobile FM equipment *

4. Mobile antennas *

5. Batteries for personal radios *

6. Battery chargers *

7. Evidence gathering equipment

8. Tape recorders

9. Vehicle power generators

10. Repeaters *

* Denotes documentation already developed by LESL.

O Information which would be most valuable on equipment for which documentation is not

currently available.

1. Evidence gathering equipment

2. Tape recorders *

3. Vehicle power generators

4. Fixed antennas *

5. Paging

6. Console displays

7. Microphones

8. Computer-aided dispatch

9. Control heads *

10. Relay and remote equipment

* Work in progress at LESL on documents for this equipment.

B. Communications Specialists

O 76 out of 85 respondents (89 percent) were aware of the Law Enforcement Equipment

Standards Program.

O 71 (84 percent) knew the program was being conducted by LESL for NILECJ.

O 67 (79 percent) knew that LESL had developed documents on police communications

equipment for NILECJ.

O 60 (71 percent) had received the NILECJ communications documents.

O 59 (69 percent) know how to order NILECJ communications documents.

O 47 (55 percent) would use the documents for procurement, 76 (89 percent) for refer- ence and 29 (34 percent) for testing purposes. O 72 (85 percent) would like copies of the LESL communications documents.

O 73 (86 percent) would like a copy of the updated list of LESL communications publications.

viii
O Information on the following equipment would be the most valuable. (In order of priority. See table 4. ) :

1. Personal two-way radios *

2. Base station equipment *

3. Computer-aided dispatch

4. Relay and remote equipment

5. Repeaters *

6. Satellite receivers

7. Receiver voting equipment

8. Mobile FM equipment *

9. Test equipment

10. Tape recorders

* Denotes documentation already developed by LESL.

O Information which would be most valuable on equipment for which documentation is not

currently available

:

1. Computer-aided dispatch

2. Relay and remote equipment

3. Satellite receivers

4. Receiver voting equipment

5. Test equipment

6. Tape recorders *

7. Mobile digital terminals *

8. Fixed antennas *

9. Microwave transmission

10. Paging

* Work in progress at LESL on documents for this equipment.

C. SPA and LEAA Representatives

O Nine out of nine respondents (100 percent) were aware of the Law Enforcement Equipment Standards Program.

O Nine (100 percent) knew the program was being conducted by LESL for NILECJ.

O Nine (100 percent) knew that LESL had developed documents on police communications equipment for NILECJ.

O Eight (89 percent) had received the NILECJ communications documents.

O Five (56 percent) know how to order NILECJ communication documents.

O Two (22 percent) would use the documents for procurement and nine (100 percent)

for reference purposes. O Five (56 percent) would like copies of the LESL communications documents.

O Eight (89 percent) would like a copy of the updated list of the LESL communications

publications.

O Information on the following equipment would be the most valuable. (In order of priority. See table 5.) :

1. Mobile antennas *

2. Personal two-way radios *

3. Mobile FM equipment *

4. Base station equipment *

ix
5. Repeaters *

6. Voice privacy *

7. Computer-aided dispatch

8. Automatic vehicle location *

9. Facsimile equipment

10. Communications Terms and Definitions *

* Denotes documentation already developed by LESL.

O Information which would be most valuable on equipment for which documentation is not currently available:

1. Computer-aided dispatch

2. Facsimile equipment *

3. Selective signaling *

4. Fixed antennas *

5. Mobile digital terminals *

6. Microwave transmission

7. Combination radios

8. Record retrieval

9. Relay and remote equipment

10. Control heads *

* Work in progress at LESL on documents for this equipment.

X
POLICE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT SURVEY OF 1976

W. A. SHAND AND M. J. TREADO

This report discloses the results of a survey conducted by NBS for the Law Enforcement Assistance

Administration. The survey was designed to determine the degree of utilization of law enforcement communications equipment documentation developed by the Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory of NBS

and the need, if any, for additional documentation. 176 of 254 questionnaires were returned by respondents

for a 69 percent rate of return. Key Words: Communications equipment priorities; equipment standards; Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory; police equipment; reports and guidelines; survey

1. INTRODUCTION

1.T Project Background

During the past several years, law enforcement agencies in the United States have become more aware of the importance of equipment in the performance of their duties. Much of their equipment had originally been designed for other uses and had been modified to meet current

needs. Other equipment items had to be used as developed. No standards existed against which

equipment performance could be measured, nor were any standard test methods or procedures

available. It has been difficult for agencies to compare the performance of equipment items. Recognizing this problem, the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) of the Department of Justice began a concentrated program in 1971 toward the improvement of law

enforcement equipment.

As one of the first steps in its program, LEAA asked the Department of Commerce to establish the Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (LESL) at the National Bureau of Standards

(NBS). The broad goal of LESL is to prepare performance standards and guidelines which

can be promulgated by LEAA as voluntary aids for the selection of equipment by law en- forcement agencies. Additionally, LESL is developing standard test methods and procedures

so that the relative performance of similar items may be evaluated and compared.

In order to obtain current information to assist in planning a continuing program for communications equipment documentation, LEAA asked the Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory to gather information from the users of law enforcement communications equipment

about their equipment needs and problems. Although face-to-face interviews with a large

sample of representatives from law enforcement agencies would have been desirable, time and

manpower constraints led to the development of a nationwide, mail sample survey having two

general objectives: (1) to obtain information about the current documentation which had

been distributed to the law enforcement users; and (2) to assist LEAA in the establishment

of priorities for LESL's standards development activities. This report fulfills these objectives.

1.2 Sample Design

Three basic organization groups were considered for the sample design: (a) police offi- cials (from agencies varying in size), (b) known police communications specialists, and

(c) LEAA and State Planning Agency (SPA) offices.

The first group consisted of 120 police officials from states, counties, and cities of all sizes. These were selected from a listing of 428 police agencies who had responded to an

earlier (1972) communications equipment survey.^ Twenty police officials were randomly

selected from each of the following:

1 NBS Special Publication 480-2 (In Press).

1
State police or highway patrols

County police departments

Cities with 1 to 9 sworn ofi&cers Cities with 10 to 49 sworn officers Cities with 50 or more sworn officers The 50 largest cities

The second group of 120 was selected in the main from the Associated Public-Safety

Communications Officers (APCO), Inc., organization. APCO is active in police communications system design, equipment procurement, and frequency allocations. The final group of 14 was comprised of personnel from the LEAA regional and SPA offices.

1.3 Questionnaire Administration

A questionnaire pre-test was carried out with five agencies within close proximity of Washington, D.C.

The same approved questionnaire was used for all three groups (police officials, police communication specialists and LEAA personnel). One copy of the questionnaire with a covering

letter signed by the Chief of the Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (see appendix A)

was sent to each participant on January 22, 1976. After a period of one month, telephone

calls were made to the non-respondents. More than 250 telephone calls were made, which

resulted in doubling the responses. Twenty-seven agencies requested a re-mail of the questionnaire.

The highest percentage of return was from the states (90 percent) and the lowest from

agencies having 1 to 9 officers (50 percent). Other responses are shown in tables 1 and 2.

1.4 Development and Design of the Questionnaire

During the development of the survey rationale and questionnaire, assistance was received

from NILECJ communications equipment experts and behavioral science specialists at NBS.

The questionnaire was designed to provide an indication of how the present documentation is being used and to measure its value. In addition, questions were included on all types

of communications equipment to obtain an accurate assessment of the need for future documentation.

2. SURVEY RESULTS

2.1 Advice to Reader

The answers to the questionnaire and deductions drawn from them, which appear in this section, are a direct result of information received from the participants. No effort was made

to discuss, challenge, or verify the accuracy of the information given. Not all the questions were answered in every questionnaire; therefore, the sum of the answers to a particular question need not necessarily add up to the total participants within a group. In most cases, and

where necessary, each question included a brief presentation of the subject equipment. Therefore the reader should become familiar with the questions before evaluating the data obtained.

Questions and tabulated responses are given in the following paragraphs.

2
2.2 Question by Question Tabulation

2.2.1 Availability and Use of NILECJ Communications Documents

Questions 2 through 5 were designed to find out what the participant knew about LESL,

NILECJ and the LESL documents. Also, whether or not the documents had been received and

used.

LESL and NILECJ

2.0 Are you aware of the Law Enforcement Equipment Standards Program being con- ducted by NILECJ?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 60 76 9

No 21 9 0

2.1 Did you know that this program is being conducted for NILECJ by the Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (LESL) of the National Bureau of Standards?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 55 71 9

No 26 14 0

LESL Developed Documents

3.0 Did you know that LESL has developed documents on police communications tech- niques and equipment for NILECJ (See attached listing) ?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 50 67 9

No 31 17 0

NILECJ Documents

4.0 Have you received any of the NILECJ communications documents?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 47 60 8

No 33 25 1

Ordering NILECJ Documents

5.0 Do you know how to order the NILECJ communications documents?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 48 59 5

No 26 26 4

3
Question 6 was designed to obtain information on the availability and use of NILECJ communication documents.

Availability/Use of NILECJ Documents

How would your department utilize communications equipment standards, guidelines and

reports ?

6.0 As part of procurement specifications

6.1 As reference material

6.2 For use in testing 6.3 Other. Specify

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

6.0 48 47 2

6.1 74 76 9

6.2 21 29 0

6.3 3 10 1

Would you like to have

:

6.4 A copy of the communications documents developed by LESL and issued by NILECJ?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 69 72 5

No 9 7 3

6.5 An updated list of these publications?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 69 73 8

No 5 3 1

2.2.2 Availability and Use of NILECJ Communications Equipment Standards

Questions 7 through 19 are constructed to provide information on how the NILECJ docu- ments have or will be utilized within the agencies.

Standard for Fixed and Base Station FM Transmitters

NILECJ has published a standard for Fixed and Base Station FM Transmitters, NILECJSTD-0201.00, dated September 1974. This document was distributed during June 1975.

7.0 Did you receive this standard?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 34 38 6

No 47 47 3

4
7.1 Did you retain it for future use?

Police Officers

Yes 32

Communications Specialists

37

LEAA

6

7.2 Have you used the standard for reference, system design, procurement or test purposes?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 21 25 4

7.3 Please estimate the value or anticipated value of this standard to your department.

High Medium Low Not Req^

Police Officers 27 22 10 7

Communications Specialists 14 34 11 4

LEAA 0 5 2 0

7.4 Is your department presently utilizing this type of equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 54 72 2

No 11 4 7

7.5 In your department, what procurement priority would this equipment have?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 29 17 14 4

Communications Specialists 41 21 12 2

LEAA 2 1 _ 3

7.6 If your answer to the previous question is none, please give reason below.

Police Communications

Officers Specialists LEAA

Budget restrictions 6 4 0

Department too small to justify expense 3 0 0

Other 5 4 4

Standard for Mobile FM Transmitters

NILECJ has published a standard for Mobile FM Transmitters, NILECJ-STD-0202.00

dated October 1974. This document was distributed during May 1975. 5
8.0 Did you receive this standard?

Police Officers

Yes

No

36

45

Communications Specialists

38

47

LEAA

8

1

8.1 Did you retain it for future use?

Police Officers

Yes 32

Communications Specialists

38

LEAA

8

8.2 Have you used the standard for reference, system design, procurement or test purposes?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 19 23 6

8.3 j^lease estimate the value or anticipated value of this standard to your department.

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 9 27 6 6

Communications Specialists 15 35 13 9

LEAA 2 3 3 0

8.4 Is your department presently utilizing this type of equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 46 68 2

No 15 5 5

8.5 In your department, what procurement priority would this equipment have?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 27 17 10 4

Communications Specialists 39 21 12 3

LEAA 2 1 0 3

8.6 If your answer to the previous question is none, please give reason below.

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Budget restrictions 6 3 0

Department too small to 3 0 0

justify expense Other 3 7 4

6
Standard for Personal/Portable FM Transmitters

NILECJ has published a standard for Personal/Portable FM Transmitters, NILECJ-STD0203.00, dated October 1974. This document was distributed during July 1975.

9.0 Did you receive this standard?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 36 38 7

No 44 47 2

9.1 Did you retain it for future use?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 35 38 7

9.2 Have you used the standard for reference, system design, procurement or test purposes?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 18 21 5

9.3 Please estimate the value or anticipated value of this standard to your department?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 15 22 10 6

Communications Officers 23 25 15 3

LEAA 1 3 3 0

9.4 Is your department presently utilizing this type of equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 53 73 2

No 8 3 5

9.5 In your department what procurement priority would this equipment have?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 23 19 9 5

Communications Specialists 41 27 8 1 LEAA 2 1 0 3

7
9.6 If your answer to the previous question is none, please give reason below.

Police Communications

Officers Specialists LEAA

Budget restrictions Department too small to justify expense

Other

6

4

3

20

1

0

0

3

Standard for Mobile Antennas

NILECJ has published a standard for Mobile Antennas, NILECJ-STD-0205.00, dated May

1974. This document was distributed during September 1974.

10.0 Did you receive this standard?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 33 30 8

No 47 54 1

10.1 Did you retain it for future use?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 29 27 8

10.2 Have you used the standard for reference, system design, procurement or test purposes?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 15 17 5

10.3 Please estimate the value or anticipated value of this standard to your department.

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 11 15 15 6

Communications Specialists 15 22 21 8

LEAA 1 1 5 0

10.4 Is your department presently utilizing this type of equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 55 71 2

No 7 5 4

8
10.5 In your department what procurement priority would this equipment have?

nign \\/\ ^ri 1 1 1 YY\ IVlcLlXU 11 J. Low

Police Officers 24 19 13

Communications Specialists 31 34 11

LEAA 1 1 1

Not Req'd

10.6 If your answer to the previous question is none, please give reason below.

Budget restrictions Department too small to justify expense Other

Police Communications

Officers Specialists LEAA

4 3 0

3 0 0

3 1 3

Standard for Mobile FM Receivers

NILECJ has published a standard for Mobile FM Receivers, NILECJ-STD-0207.00, dated June 1975. This document has not been distributed yet.

11.0 Do you anticipate that you may use this standard?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 60 66 7

No 19 17 2

11.1 If yes, for what purpose(s)?

Police Communications

Officers Specialists LEAA

Reference 51 60 6

In developing specifications 35 47 3

Test procedures 10 23 1 For procurement documentation 19 22 1 Other 2 2 1

11.2 If not, why not?

Police Communications

Officers Specialists LEAA

Too much trouble 2 0 0

Someone else procures your equipment 6 0 0

Don't use this type of equipment 5 3 1 Too expensive 10 0

Other 6 6 0

9
Standard on Batteries for Personal/Portable Transceivers

NILECJ has developed a performance standard on Batteries for Personal/Portable Transceivers, NILECJ-STD-0211.00, dated March 1975. This document has not been distributed

yet.

12.0 Do you anticipate that you may use this standard?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 63 76 6

No 14 8 3

12.1 If yes, for what purpose(s)?

Police Communications

Officers Specialists LEAA

Reference 55 71 5

In developing specifications 85 44 2

Test procedures 15 36 1 For procurement documentation 17 26 0

Other 3 1 2

12.2 If not, why not?

Police Communications

Officers Specialists LEAA

Too much trouble 3 0 0

Someone else procures your equipment 4 0 0

Don't use this type of equipment 0 0 1 Too expensive 1 0 0

Other 5 7 0

2.2.3 Need for Design Standards

Standard on RF Coaxial Cable Assemblies

NILECJ has developed a standard on RF Coaxial Cable Assemblies for Mobile Transceivers, NILECJ-STD-0212.00, dated June 1975. This document has not been distributed yet. As opposed to the other standards, which are strictly performance standards, this standard

specifies not only the performance of the coaxial cable but also specifies the design of the connectors for the coaxial cable between the mobile transceiver and the car antenna.

13.0 Are standards which specify design parameters of value to you?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 47 68 5

No 26 14 3

10
13.1 What priority would you give this standard?

iligti ivicQium Low ilUL 1\.C(J tl

Police Officers 16 27 12 11

Communications Specialists 30 31 19 5

LEAA 3 1 3 0

13.2 For what purpose (s) would you use such a standard?

Police Communications

Officers Specialists LEAA

Reference 46 71 6

In developing specifications 31 49 3

Test procedures 7 27 1 For procurement documentation 8 23 1 Other 4 5 1

13.3 What other design standards would you like to see developed?

Police Communications

Officers Specialists LEAA

Personal radios (size and weight) 47 54 2

Batteries for personal radios (size, weight 31 46 2 and interface with radio)

Microphones 21 34 3

Microphone cables and connectors 16 32 3

Control head switches and switch functions 27 50 3

Control head mounting bracket 27 35 3

Other 21 53 8

2.2.4 Availability and Use of NILECJ Equipment Reports

Report on comparison and performance characteristics of batteries.

NILECJ has published a report on the comparison and performance characteristics of

batteries used with law enforcement communications equipment, LESP-RPT-0201.00, dated

May 1972. This document was distributed during January 1973.

14.0 Did you receive this report?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 23 33 5

No 54 52 3

14.1 Did you retain it for future use?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 21 29 5

11
14.2 Have you used the report for system design or reference purposes?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 10 18 3

No 35 31 0

14.3 Is your department presently using batteries for communication equipment needs?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 53 72 2

No 5 8 3

14.4 Whether you have the report or not, estimate its value to your department.

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 17 25 14 5

Communications Specialists 24 27 23 4

LEAA 1 3 2 0

Report on chargers and charging techniques.

NILECJ has published a report on chargers and charging techniques for batteries used

with law enforcement communications equipment, LESP-RPT-0202.00, dated June 1973. This document was distributed during February 1974.

15.0 Did you receive this report?

Police Officers

Yes

No

18

59

Communications Specialists

20

65

LEAA

6

3

15.1 Did you retain it for future use?

Police Officers Communications Specialists

Yes 17 20

LEAA

6

15.2 Have you used the report for system design or reference purposes?

Police Officers Communications Specialists

Yes

No

9

37

13

28

LEAA

2

5

12
15.3 Is your department presently using battery chargers for communication equipment

needs?

Yes

No

Police Officers

55

15

Communications Specialists

67

2

LEAA

2

3

15.4 Whether you have the report or not, estimate its value to your department.

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 20 26 12 7

Communications Specialists 28 30 14 6

LEAA 1 3 2 0

Report on voice privacy equipment.

NILECJ has published a report on voice privacy equipment for law enforcement communication systems, LESP-RPT-0204.00, dated May 1974. This document was distributed during

December 1974.

16.0 Did you receive this report?

Police Officers

Yes

No

23

55

Communications Specialists

23

61

LEAA

7

2

16.1 Did you retain it for future use?

Police Officers Communications Specialists

Yes 20 23

LEAA

7

16.2 Have you used the report for system desi;

Police Officers

ign or reference purposes?

Communications Specialists

Yes

No

7

38

9

33

LEAA

3

5

16.3 Is your department presently using voice privacy equipment with your communication system?

Yes

No

Police Officers

1152

Communications Specialists

17

52

LEAA

15

13
16.4 Whether you have this report or not, estimate its value to your department.

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 15 23 17 10

Communications Specialists 14 28 22 10

LEAA 1 4 2 0

Report on automatic vehicle location.

NILECJ has published a report on automatic vehicle location techniques for law enforce- ment use, LESP-RPT-0205.00, dated September 1974. This document was distributed dur- ing June 1975.

17.0 Did you receive this report?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 23 22 7

No 55 62 1

17.1' Did you retain it for future use?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 22 22 7

17.2 Have you used the report for system design and reference purposes?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 4 6 4

No 45 33 5

17.3 Is your department presently using vehicle location equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 2 3 1 No 62 67 5

17.4 Whether you have this report or not, estimate its value to your department.

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 13 17 29' 16

Communications Specialists 12 29 26 11 LEAA 2 2 3 1

Report on repeaters.

NILECJ has published a report on repeaters for law enforcement communication systems,

LESP-RPT-0206.00, dated October 1974. This document was distributed during May 1975. 14
18.0 Did you receive this report?

Police Officers

Yes

No

26

52

Communications Specialists

26

59

LEAA

5

4

18.1 Did you retain it for future use?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 24 25 5

18.2 Have you used the report for system design and reference purposes?

Police Officers Communications Specialists

Yes

No

7

42

16

29

LEAA

3

5

18.3 Is your department presently using repeaters in its communication system?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes

No

37

28

59

9

18.4 Whether you have this report or not, estimate its value to your department.

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 20 27 11 10

Communications Specialists 33 29 11 4

LEAA 1 3 3 0

Report on technical terms and definitions.

NILECJ has published a report on technical terms and definitions used with law enforce- ment communications equipment (radio antennas, transmitters and receivers), LESP-RPT0203.00, dated June 1973. This document was distributed during February 1974.

19.0 Did you receive this report?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 22 32 6

No 55 53 2

19.1 Did you retain it for future use?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 21 32 6

15
19.2 Have you used the report for system design or reference purposes?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 14 32 3

No 32 25 4

19.3 Whether you have this report or not, estimate its value to your department.

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 15 23 23 6

Communications Specialists 24 34 18 4

LEAA 2 3 3 0

2.2.5 Need for Communications Equipment Documents

Questions 20 through 50 were designed to determine what standards and guidelines are needed and what are the priorities.

NEED FOR STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

Using the designations : 1—Highest Priority 2—Medium Priority 3—Low Priority

4—Do Not Need

Indicate your need for standards and guidelines for law enforcement communications equip- ment. Use each number as many times as you require.

20.0 Personal FM two-way radios

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 46 17 9 6

Communications Specialists 47 20 11 6

LEAA 6 0 2 1

20.1 Mobile FM radios

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 47 17 3 8

Communications Specialists 34 32 10 8

LEAA 5 1 3 0

20.2 Base station equipment

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 45 18 10 6

Communications Specialists 41 29 7 7

LEAA 5 1 3 0

16
20.3 Mobile antennas

Hieho Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 29 26 22 10

Communications Specialists 23 34 23 4

LEAA 3 5 5 1

20.4 Fixed antennas

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police; Officers 17 25 27 7

Communications Specialists 26 36 16 6

LEAA 2 2 4 1

20.5 Microphones

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 15 29 23 9

Communications Specialists 14 31 26 11

LEAA 0 3 5 1

20.6 Control heads

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 15 27 22 13

Communications Specialists 21 29 22 12

LEAA 1 3 3 2

20.7 Cable and connectors

High Medium Low Not Rea'd

Police Officers 10 22 31 14

Communications Specialists 15 28 31 9

LEAA 2 1 3 3

20.8 Batteries for personal radios

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 32 22 18 10

Communications Specialists 31 28 18 8

LEAA 1 2 4 2

17
20.9 Scramblers or voice privacy equipment

tllgtl Medium Low INot neq d

Police Officers 20 23 25 12

Communications Specialists 12 25 31 18

LEAA 3 2 3 1

20.10 Repeaters

High iVledium Low INot Keq a

Police Officers 28 20 17 12

Communications Specialists 37 28 14 5

LEAA 5 1 3 0

Use the same designations : 1—Highest Priority 2—Medium Priority 3—Low Priority

4—Do Not Need

where needed, in answering the rest of the questions.

Digital Terminals

21.0 In some jurisdictions, police use digital terminals in their cars to speed up the trans- mission of messages to and from the command center. Do you have mobile digital

terminals of this type?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 6 11 2 No 75 73 5

21.1 If no, do you need them?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 33 46 1 No 41 27 5

21.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards. guidelines and reports

describing mobile digital terminals (1,2, 3, or 4)

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 21 18 20 16

Communications Specialists 36 17 25 6

LEAA 4 1 0 2

18
Electronic Eavesdropping

22.0 Some jurisdictions use electronic eavesdropping equipment such as body-worn trans- mitters for evidence gathering purposes and to safeguard their officers. Do you have

such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 32 55 1 No 49 27 6

22.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 26 9 0

No 31 20 5

22.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing electronic eavesdropping equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 17 21 22 16

Communications Specialists 19 23 27 13

LEAA 2 0 4 1

Evidence Gathering

23.0 Some jurisdictions use electronic evidence gathering equipment such as hidden microphones and small cassette recorders to assist in gathering evidence for use in court- room trials. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 38 49 1 No 43 31 7

23.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 18 13 1 No 27 22 7

23.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards. guidelines and reports

describing evidence gathering equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4) ?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 19 23 18 15

Communications Specialists 14 25 26 17

LEAA 1 2 2 2

19
Selective Signaling

24.0 Mobile radio systems make use of tone coding and selective signaling equipment to address and select the officer to be called. Do you use this type of equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 20 39 2

No 62 45 5

24.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 21 19 2

No 40 24 5

24.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing tone coding and selective signaling equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'

Police Officers 16 21 20 23

Communications Specialists 18 30 27 9

LEAA 3 2 2 1

Facsimile

25.0 The need to transmit photographs (mug shots) and fingerprints via a radio channel

or telephone line using facsimile equipment has been expressed by some departments

as a requirement. Do you have such equipment?

Yes

No

Police Officers

12

69

Communications Specialists

20

63

LEAA

0

7

25.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 30 29 2

No 41 28 5

25.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing facsimile equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 11 19 27 24

Communications Specialists 10 20 38 14

LEAA 3 3 1 0

20
Satellite Receivers

26.0 Satellite receivers, positioned at strategic locations within a jurisdiction, are used to extend the effective transmission and reception area for portable and mobile radio

systems. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 33 48 1 No 47 36 6

26.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 16 29 0

No 29 11 6

26.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards. guidelines and reports

describing satellite receivers (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 20 16 18 21

Communications Specialists 37 27 15 5

LEAA 2 2 2 1

Voting Comparators

27.0 Some jurisdictions use voting or comparator equipment to examine and select the best incoming signal from two or more satellite receivers. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists

Yes 29 46 1 No 51 38 6

27.1 H no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 12 22 0

No 30 15 6

27.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing voting and comparator equipment (1, 2, 3, or 4)

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 14 19 11 26

Communications Specialists 40 24 . 11 9

LEAA 2 2 2 1

21

LEAA
Combination Radios

28.0 Some law enforcement departments use combination mobile/handheld (sometimes

called portamobile or jerk and run) radio equipment in their cars. Do you have such

equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 26 45

No 52 39

2

5

28.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Copimunications Specialists LLAA

Yes 10 12

No 34 23

15

28.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards,

describing mobile/handheld equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

guidelines and reports

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 16 21

Communications Specialists 23 25

LEAA 2 2

25

22

3

11

11

0

Microwave Transmission

29.0 Some jurisdictions use microwave and associated multiplex equipment to replace

leased telephone lines and for the transmission of television video or data. Do you

have such equipment?

Yes

No

Police Officers

19

59

Communications Specialists

38

46

LEAA

16

29.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists

Yes

No

18

37

26

15

LEAA

15

29.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing microwave and associated multiplex equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 18 15 17 25

Communications Specialists 31 26 16 11

LEAA 2 4 2 0

22
Battery Chargers

30. Some communications equipment use batteries for power. Battery chargers are then

required to replenish the battery power drain. Do you use battery chargers?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 71 74 2

No 8 8 5

30.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 3 5 1 No 7 5 5

30.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing battery charj^ing equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 26 30 14 3

Communications Specialists 24 28 23 6

LEAA 2 1 2 2

Tape Recorders

31.0 Many jurisdictions use recording equipment in their dispatch center to record all in- coming and outgoing messages. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 52 74 2

No 28 9 5

31.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 21 8 1 No 8 3 5

31.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing recording equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 24 26 18 9

Communications Specialists 26 42 10 ' 7

LEAA 3 1 1 2

23
Intercom and Bull Horn

32.0 Some jurisdictions use intercom and bull horn equipment for getting people's atten- tion and relaying messages. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 65 77 2

No 15 7 5

32.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 9 4 1 No 8 4 5

32.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards. guidelines and reports

describing intercom and bull horn equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4) ?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 9 26 28 10

Communications Specialists 3 82 38 10

LEAA 0 0 2 4

Computer-Aided Dispatch

33.0 A few jurisdictions have, and many are considering computer-aided dispatch (CAD)

systems. CAD systems, which interface with local data banks, will not only provide

assistance to the dispatcher, but should result in better utilization of resources and

improved response time. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 15 19 1 No 65 64 6

33.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 29 45 0

No 33 16 6

33.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, ;guidelines and reports

describing computer-aided dispatch equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4) 9

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 23 18 20 13

Communications Specialists 40 23 16 16

LEAA 5 1 0 1

24
Helmet Communications

34.0 Some jurisdictions use helmets with built in radio communications for use in certain

tactical situations and hands off operations. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 8 14 0

No 73 70 6

34.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 25 28 0

No 44 29 6

34.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing communications helmet equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police OfiBcers 12 20 21 23

Communications Specialists 7 24 26 26

LEAA 0 2 2 3

Automatic Vehicle Location

35.0 Automatic vehicle location equipment can improve officer safety and allocation of resources by providing a dispatcher with automatic physical location information on

his officers and their vehicles. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 0 2 1 No 81 82 6

35.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 40 46 0

No 37 34 6

35.2 If yes, what accuracy (distance error between equipment estimate and actual vehicle

location) would you require?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

50-100 ft 10 15 0

100-250 ft 14 14 3

250-500 ft 5 12 0

500-1000 ft 12 11 0

25
35.3 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing automatic vehicle location equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 19 22 25 15

Communications Specialists 18 20 32 13

LEAA 4 2 0 1

Vehicular Power Generating Equipment

36.0 All vehicles use power generating equipment such as alternators, regulators and

batteries. Due to additional loading on this equipment caused by adding communications and other equipment, it is sometimes necessary to specify heavy duty power

generating equipment. Have you had to specify this type of heavy duty equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 70 63 0

No 11 21 6

36.1 H no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 5 5 0

No 11 14 6

36.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards. guidelines and reports

describing vehicular power generating equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 27 23 15 10

Communications Specialists 17 26 28 11

LEAA 1 2 3 1

Vehicle Trackers

37.0 Some departments have stated a need for electronic tracking equipment (sometimes

called bumper beepers), which enable authorized vehicles, without being detected,

to follow cars suspected of being used for criminal purposes. Do you need this equipment ?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 46 52 1 No 36 30 5

26
37.1 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing electronic tracking equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High iVXcUlUlIl LiOW Not Req'd

Police Officers 13 21 31 16

(loTTiTTiiiTiirPifinTic! Snpcijilmts 10 28 28 17

LEAA 1 3 3 0

Debugging Equipment

38.0 Debugging equipment is used to detect and locate hidden electronic devices placed in

strategic locations to overhear and/or record conversations. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 7 24 0

No 74 59 6

38.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 27 27 1 No 51 29 5

38.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards. guidelines and reports

describing debugging equipment 1;i, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 6 17 25 32

Communication Specialists 5 20 35 22

LEAA 1 8 2 1

Remote Power Generators

39.0 Some departments use remote area power generating equipment to power communications equipment that has no primary source or is located in relatively inaccessible

terrain. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 35 52 1 No 47 31 6

27
39.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 9 6 0

No 36 26 6

39.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, ^guidelines and reports

describing remote area power generating equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 12 17 19 24

Communications Specialists 26 20 18 17

LEAA 2 2 2 1

Console Displays

40.0 Many departments use console displays and keyboards at their headquarters to dis- play status and other information being accumulated and distributed. Do you have

such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 25 46 1 No 57 37 6

40.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 27 21 0

No 29 13 6

40.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing CRT displays and keyboards (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 17 30 16 20

Communications Specialists 22 32 21 9

LEAA 2 2 2 1

28
Record Retrieval

41.0 Some departments have expressed an interest in centralized record retrieval systems

which allow department personnel to access documents from central locations and

have them transmitted via telephone lines or radio equipment to their remote location. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

14 36 1 66 47 6

Yes

No

41.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 26 27 0

No 38 19 6

41.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing record retrieval systems (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 17 17 20 20

Communications Specialists 23 32 14 11

LEAA 2 3 1 1

Paging

42.0 Paging equipment is used to contact personnel whose location is not known or who

cannot be reached by other means. Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 36 60 2

No 46 24 5

42.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 28 16 1 No 19 4 5

29
42.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing paging equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 17 26 25 15

Communications Specialists 18 38 23 6

LEAA 1 3 3 0

Test Equipment

43.0 Many departments use communication test equipment such as signal generators,

power meters, spectrum analyzers and deviation meters, to service their equipment.

Do you have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 34 75 2

No 46 8 5

43.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 6 4 1 No 40 5 5

43.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing communication test equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req^

Police Officers 18 16 13 30

Communication Specialists 37 28 9 8

LEAA 1 2 3 1

Handheld Digital Terminals

44.0 Some manufacturers are developing handheld digital terminals for access to infor- mation on license plates, vehicle registration numbers and other data from computer

files. Do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 20 36 1 No 62 48 6

30
44.1 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing handheld di^ptal terminals (1, 2, 3 or 4)?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

rolice Umcers lU 1 A ooZo Zo

Communications Specialists 9 23 19 28

LEAA 2 3 0 2

Relay and Remote Equipment

45.0 Many departments use relay and remote equipment for control of remote base sta- tions from the dispatch center. Do you use such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 44 77 2

No 36 6 5

45.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 7 2 0

No 29 5 5

45.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards, guidelines and reports

describing relay anid remote equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4) ?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 21 21 16 20

Communications Specialists 40 27 8 8

LEAA 1 4 2 0

Telephone Answering

46.0 An interest has been expressed by some departments for telephone answering equip- ment. This equipment can give out a fixed message to telephone callers. It can also ask the caller to leave name and telephone number information for call back purposes. Do you use such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 10 27 1 No 71 57 6

31
46.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 10 10 0

No 54 38 6

46.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards. guidelines and reports

describing telephone answerinjs; equipment (1, 2, 3 or 4) ?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 9 9 16 40

Communications Specialists 2 24 26 29

LEAA 1 1 2 3

Disguised Antennas

47.0 Some departments use disguised antennas on their cars. Do you use such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 45 70 2

No 36 14 5

47.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 16 7 1 No 23 7 5

47.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards. guidelines and reports

describing disguised mobile antennas?

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 19 7 29 10

Communications Specialists 20 31 23 11

LEAA 0 4 3 0

Control of Traffic Lights

48.0 It is possible to control traffic lights from a police car (make the traffic lights go

green by transmitting a signal from the car.) Do you use such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 0 7 2

No 81 76 5

32
48.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 18 16

No 57 54

0

5

48.2 What priority do you place on your need for standards,

describing equipment which controls traffic lights from cars?

guidelines and reports

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 7 7

Communications Specialists 7 11

LEAA 1 2

17

20

3

44

39

1

Portable Tape Recorders

49.0 Some departments issue their officers portable tape recorders so that they can dictate

their activities reports in the police car, thereby saving report writing time. Do you

have such equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 30 38

No 51 45

3

4

49.1 If no, do you need this equipment?

Police Officers Communications Specialists LEAA

Yes 20 22

No 32 22

0

4

49.2 What priority would you place on your need for standards,

describing portable tape recorders?

guidelines and reports

High Medium Low Not Req'd

Police Officers 12 23

Communications Specialists 9 14

LEAA 0 3

23

29

1

18

28

3

50. List any other items of communications equipment, in order of priority, for which

you feel standards and guidelines should be developed to assist individual jurisdic- tions in the selection and procurement process.

From the replies to this question the following are considered to have merit:

Automatic line identifiers Subway communications

Aircraft radios Mobile repeaters in car Vehicle radio identifiers Modems

Data terminals

33
2.3 Priority Ratings

To determine priorities for future communications equipment documentation, participants were asked to assign priority levels as follows:

1—Highest Priority

2—Medium Priority

3—Low Priority

4—Do Not Need

Each question, where applicable, was then assigned a total score by assigning three points

to the highest priority, two points to the medium priority, one point to the low priority

and zero points to the "do not need" category. A total for each equipment category was

calculated and listed in order of highest priority.

Tables 3, 4 and 5 show the priority ratings for each group of respondees.

2.4 Discussion

The overall rate of return achieved by this survey, 69 percent, is excellent and much higher

than in most surveys of law enforcement communications planners and equipment users. The

fact that the states returned the highest percentage of usable questionnaires is easily explained,

and it is not surprising that, of all the jurisdictions sampled, the smallest cities returned the fewest questionnaires. Both of these results are undoubtedly determined by the availability of personnel qualified to complete the necessary forms.

Over 50 percent of the respondents knew about the LESL program (question 2), while an

even larger number, 83 percent, wanted copies of the documents (question 6). Sixty-five

percent (question 4) had received one or more NILECJ documents prior to receiving the questionnaire. Not quite half of these would use the documents for procurement, while

almost all respondees would use them for reference purposes (question 6). A review of questions 7-10 (see table 6) shows that over 50 percent of the recipients of the first published

standards had used them for either reference, system design, procurement or test purposes. The utilization of the initially distributed reports varied substantially, probably due to the subject matter involved. A comparison of the replies to questions 16 and 17 shows that a

significantly larger number of respondees used the report on voice privacy equipment, 94

percent, than used the automatic vehicle location techniques report, 27 percent. Questions

11 and 12 (Mobile FM Receivers and Batteries for Personal/Portable Equipment) demonstrated that in more than 75 percent of the police agencies responding, these two documents

will be utilized for one or more of the purposes listed. See Table 7.

Between the specific groups, the communications specialists produced higher percentages

than the police officials in all categories except the use of documents. Although the police

officials had less knowledge of the program, they were more interested in using the docu- ments for procurement and reference purposes than the specialists were.

The first six priority items of equipment listed by police officials have already been the subject of documentation developed by LESL, while 13 of the first 20 priorities (see table 3) have also been covered by LESL documentation, either published or in the process of being published. In contrast, four of the first seven items listed by the communications

specialists (see table 4) have not been undertaken by LESL. These will be mentioned later. Overall, however, 12 of the top 20 priority items selected by this group have been, or are, in- cluded in the LESL program. Nine of the first 10 SPA and LEAA priority items (see table

5) have already been developed, while 14 of their top twenty are included in the present

program.

34
Table 3. Police Officials' Priorities

Item Question Equipment

Priority

Rating

1 20.0 Personal FM two-way radios 181 2 20.2 Base station equipment 181 3 20.1 Mobile FM radios 178 4 20.3 Mobile antennas 161

5 20.8 Batteries for personal radios 158 6 30 Battery chargers 152 7 23 Evidence gathering 151 8 31 Tape recorders 142 9 36 Vehicle power generators 142 10 20.10 Repeaters 141

11 20.9 Voice privacy equipment 131 12 20.4 Fixed antennas 128

13 42 Paging 128 14 40 Console displays 127 15 20.5 Microphones 126 16 35 Automatic vehicle location 126 17 33 Computer-aided dispatch 125

18 20.6 Control heads 121 19 45 Relay and remote equipment 121 20 21 Digital terminals 119

21 22 Electronic eavesdropping 115 22 28 Combination radios 115 23 13 RF coaxial cable assemblies 114 24 19 Report on terms and definitions 114 25 37 Vehicle trackers 112 26 24 Selective signaling 110 27 26 Satellite receivers 110 28 32 Intercom and buU horn 107 29 20.7 Cable and connectors 105 30 41 Record retrieval 105 31 49 Portable tape recorders 105 32 29 Microwave transmission 101 33 47 Disguised antennas 100 34 43 Test equipment 99

35 25 Facsimile 98

36 34 Helmet communications 97

37 27 Voting comparators 91 38 39 Remote power generators 89

39 44 Handheld digital terminals 86

40 38 Debugging equipment 77

41 46 Telephone answering 61 42 48 Control of trafiBc lights 52

35
Table 4. Communication specialists' priorities

Item Question Equipment

Priority

Rating

1 20.0 Personal FM two-way radios 192 2 20.2 Base station equipment 188

3 33 Computer-aided dispatch 182 4 45 Relay and remote equipment 182

5 20.10 Repeaters 181

6 26 Satellite receivers 180

7 27 Voting comparators 179

8 20.1 Mobile FM radios 176

9 43 Test equipment 176

10 31 Tape recorders 172

11 13 RF coaxial cable assemblies 171

12 20.8 Batteries for personal radios 167

13 21 Digital terminals 167

14 20.4 Fixed antennas 166

15 29 Microwave transmission 161

16 20.3 Mobile antennas 160

17 19 Report on terms and definitions 158

18 42 Paging 153

19 40 Console displays 151 20 30 Battery chargers 151

21 41 Record retrieval 147

22 47 Disguised antennas 145

23 20.6 Control heads 143 24 24 Selective signaling 141 25 28 Combination radios 141 26 39 Remote power generators 136

27 20.7 Cable and connectors 132

28 36 Vehicle power generators 131 29 20.5 Microphones 130 30 22 Electronic eavesdropping 130

31 35 Automatic vehicle location 126 32 23 Evidence gathering 118 33 20.9 Voice privacy equipment 117 34 37 Vehicle trackers 114

35 32 Intercom and bull horns 111 36 25 Facsimile 108 37 34 Helmet communications 95 38 44 Handheld digital terminals 92 39 38 Debugging equipment 90 40 49 Portable tape recorders 84

41 46 Telephone answering 80 42 48 Control of traffic lights 63

36
Table 5. SPA and LEAA representatives' priorities

T*Item— Question Equipment R.8ting

1 20.3 Mobile antennas 24

2 20.0 Personal FM two-way radios 20

3 20.1 Mobile FM radios 20 4 20.2 Base station equipment 20

5 20.10 Repeaters 20

6 20.9 Voice privacy equipment 18 7 33 Computer-aided dispatch 17 8 35 Automatic vehicle location 16 9 25 Facsimile 16 10 19 Report on terms and definitions 15

11 24 Selective signaling 15 12 13 RF coaxial cable assemblies 14

13 20.4 Fixed antennas 14

14 21 Digital terminals 14

15 29 Microwave transmission 14

16 28 Combination radios 13

17 41 Record retrieval 13 18 45 Relay and remote equipment 13 19 20.6 Control heads 12 20 26 Satellite receivers 12

21 27 Voting comparators 12 22 31 Tape recorders 12 23 37 Vehicle trackers 12 24 39 Remote power generators 12 25 40 Console displays 12 26 42 Paging 12 27 44 Handheld digital terminals 12 28 48 Control of traffic lights 12 29 20.5 Microphones 11 30 20.7 Cable and connectors 11 31 20.8 Batteries for personal radios 11 32 38 Debugging equipment 11 33 47 Disguised antennas 11 34 22 Electronic eavesdropping 10

35 30 Battery chargers 10 36 36 Vehicle power generators 10 37 43 Test equipment 10 38 23 Evidence gathering 9 39 46 Telephone answering 7

Portable tape recorders 41 34 Helmet communications 6 42 32 Intercom and bull horn 2

37
It is of interest to disregard those items of equipment already in the program and deter- mine which items would then receive the highest priorities. This has been done in table 8.

Table 6. Use of standards

Question Standard Received Used Percent used

7 Fixed & base station FM transmitters 88 50 57

8 Mobile FM transmitters 82 48 59

9 Personal/portable FM transmitters 81 44 54

10 Mobile antennas 71 37 52

Table 7. Participants that intend to use standards

Percentage

Police Communications SPA and LEAA

Question Equipment OfiScials Specialists Representatives

11 Mobile FM receivers 76 78 78

12 Batteries for personal/ portable 82 89 67

transceivers

Table 8. Priorities by category

Type of equipment

Priority Police ConMnunications LEAA and SPA

rating OfiEcials Specialists Representatives

1 Evidence gathering Computer-aided dispatch Computer-aided dispatch 2 Vehicle power Relay and remote equipment Microwave transmission 3 Paging Satellite receivers Combination radios 4 Console displays Voting comparators Record retrieval 5 Microphones Test equipment Relay and remote equipment

It is also of interest to portray the extent of the previous LESL effort in relation to a composite of the highest priority items. This is illustrated in table 9, using 30 of the highest

priority items.

38
Table 9. Priorities vs. documentation

Question Equipment Standard Report Guideline

20.0 rersonal J* M two-way radios Jli INK U

20.2 Base station equipment bj INK U

20.1 Mobile e m radios Ej INK U

20.3 Mobile antennas TP INK T\U

OA O

Batteries for personal radios 17

Jli INK U

OA Battery chargers 17£1 09Zo Evidence gathering

T„„„ 1 lape recorders I)

17Hi U

36 Vehicle power generators Repeaters u Ci U

OA f\ Voice privacy equipment 17£j OA yl Fixed antennas U INK

42 Paging

/f A Console displays OA C Microphones

oO Automatic vehicle location 17Cl Q9Od Computer-aided dispatch OA A Control heads u

Relay and remote equipment

91 Digital terminals U

r»U

Electronic eavesdropping U 17

ZD C i IT* satellite receivers OT Voting comparators

lest equipment

coaxial cable assemblies OA Microwave transmission 25 Facsimile D

24 Selective signaling D

28 Combination radios 41 Record retrieval

E—Documentation Exists D—Documentation Being Developed

NR—Documentation Not Required

39
To illustrate the difference between the needs of large departments and those of smaller departments, the responses to question 21, Digital Terminals, and question 36, Vehicle Power

Generating Equipment, were analyzed. As seen in table 10, the average priority rating of

digital terminals was calculated and compared with the rating determined for the 50 largest

cities, and that determined for cities with 1-9 officers. The reader will see that digital ter- minals rank high in priority among the 50 largest cities, well above the average rating figure of 1.74, while this important category evokes very little support from the small cities. Conversely, vehicle power generating equipment is an important item for the small cities, but, in the 50 largest cities, this equipment category ranks well below the average.

3. CONCLUSIONS

From the previous discussion it can be concluded that most of the respondents know about

the LESL program and want copies of the documents, which they intend to use for reference purposes and, to a lesser extent, for procurement. In fact, over half of the respondents had

already used one or more standards for a specific purpose. Many of the reports had also received heavy usage, but at least one report had been used by as few as 27 percent of the

recipients.

Although the majority of the respondents knew how to order NILECJ documents, a large

percentage still do not know how to do so. It is significant that almost one half of the respondents would use the documents for procurement, if they had them, and approximately

90 percent said they would use the documents for procurement or reference purposes. This

illustrates the need for better dissemination of these documents to the potential user. A large percentage of those items of equipment given the highest priorities by the respondees have already been the subject of documentation by LESL (see table 9)^ In the case of

police officials, 8 of the top 10 items fell in this category. This includes items such as personal

radios, base station equipment, mobile radios, antennas, batteries, scramblers and repeaters.

Other priority items presently in the LESL program include tape recorders, digital terminals,

and electronic eavesdropping equipment. Priority items not in the LESL program are listed in table 8, and include evidence gathering equipment and computer-aided dispatch equipment as the highest priorities. These items of equipment, along with the others in table 8, should be covered in the near future to provide the documentation requested by police

officials.

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41
APPENDIX A

Letter to Police Officials

Dear

The Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (LESL) was established by the National Bureau

of Standards to assist the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) in the devel- opment of standards and guidelines for law enforcement equipment. During the almost five years of its existence, LESL has developed a large number of law enforcement equipment

standards, guidelines and reports which have been published by LEAA's National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (NILECJ), see attached list. Several of these docu- ments discuss communications equipment and techniques.

It is now necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these documents. The best way to deter- mine: their effectiveness is to ask those who are involved in the use, selection and procurement

of law enforcement communications equipment. Your department is one of a group being

asked to assist in this evaluation by completing and returning the attached questionnaire.

Questionnaire results will also be used to plan a continuing communications equipment

standards program. The answers you give will help determine which additional items of communications equipment will be included in this program. Without a response from you, our data base will be incomplete.

Enclosed you will find a copy of the results of a 1972 law enforcement communications equipment survey in which your department participated. A wealth of informative data was

obtained from this previous survey, and it is anticipated that similar results will be obtained

from the enclosed questionnaire.

If you have any questions concerning either the intent or purpose of this questionnaire, or

the content and meaning of any of the questions, please write or call collect:

Marshall Treado (or) Bill Shand

Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory

Bldg. 221, Room B-150

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D.C. 20234

Phone: (301) 921-3161

Thanks in advance for your assistance in this endeavor. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely yours,

Jacob J. Diamond, Chief

Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory

Attachments

42
Letter to Communication Specialists

Dear

The Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (LESL) was established by the National Bureau

of Standards to assist the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) in the devel- opment of standards and guidelines for law enforcement equipment. During the almost five years of its existence, LESL has developed a large number of law enforcement equipment

standards, guidelines and reports which have been published by LEAA's National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (NILECJ), see attached list. Several of these docu- ments discuss communications equipment and techniques.

It is now necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these documents. The best way to determine

their effectiveness is to ask those who are involved in the use, selection and procurement of law enforcement communications equipment. You are one of a group of communications specialists being asked to assist in this evaluation by completing and returning the attached

questionnaire. Questionnaire results will also be used to plan a continuing communications

equipment standards program. The answers you give will help determine which additional

items of communications equipment will be included in this program. Without a response from you, our data base will be incomplete.

If you have any questions concerning either the intent or purpose of this questionnaire, or the content and meaning of any of the questions, please write or call collect

:

Marshall Treado (or) Bill Shand

Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory

Bldg. 221, Room B-150

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D.C. 20234

Phone: (301) 921-3161

Thanks in advance for your assistance in this endeavor. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely yours,

Jacob J. Diamond, Chief

Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory

Attachments

43
Letter to SPA and LEAA Representatives

Dear

The Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (LESL) was established by the National Bureau

of Standards to assist the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) in the devel- opment of standards and guidelines for law enforcement equipment. During the almost five years of its existence, LESL has developed a large number of law enforcement equipment

standards, guidelines and reports which have been published by LEAA's National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (NILECJ), see attached list. Several of these docu- ments discuss communications equipment and techniques.

It is now necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these documents. The best way to determine

their effectiveness is to ask those who are involved in the use, selection and procurement of law enforcement communications equipment. Your organization is one of a group being asked

to assist in this evaluation by completing and returning the attached questionnaire. Questionnaire results will also be used to plan a continuing communications equipment standards pro- gram. The answers you give will help determine which additional items of communications

equipment will be included in this program. Without a response from you, our data base will be incomplete.

If you have any questions concerning either the intent or purpose of this questionnaire, or the content and meaning of any of the questions, please write or call collect:

Marshall Treado (or) Bill Shand

Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory

Bldg. 221, Room B-150

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D.C. 20234

Phone: (301) 921-3161

Thanks in advance for your assistance in this endeavor. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely yours,

Jacob J. Diamond, Chief

Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory

Attachments

<r U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1 977- -21»0-8't8/267

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